Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have reportedly reached an agreement to face off in an eagerly anticipated heavyweight bout, with significant details now disclosed. Speculation arose last December that the long-standing rivalry between the two would be settled in the boxing ring in 2026. However, shortly after his victory over Jake Paul during the recent Christmas period, Anthony Joshua was involved in a tragic car accident in Nigeria, resulting in the unfortunate deaths of his close friends Sina Ghami and Lateef ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
Following concerns that Joshua might never return to boxing after the near-death experience, the former two-time heavyweight champion is now back in light training, contemplating a potential comeback to the ring this summer. There are talks of a potential match against former foe Dillian Whyte before pursuing a showdown with Fury.
According to boxing journalist Gareth A Davies, both Fury and Joshua have formally agreed to a ring encounter. Davies, speaking on talkSPORT, confirmed that the fight has been signed behind the scenes, with reliable sources supporting the agreement. He stated, “The Fury-Joshua fight is signed. Okay, it is signed in the background. I’ve got that on good authority.”
Davies further mentioned that the event is scheduled to be broadcast on Netflix, potentially taking place either later this year or early next year. Joshua is expected to make a return to the ring in June or July. He emphasized, “It’s with the big money people. It’ll be on Netflix. It’s on the cards and it’s going to happen.”
Netflix is set to broadcast Fury’s comeback on April 11. The ‘Gypsy King’ shocked fans last year with his retirement announcement from boxing, only to reverse the decision shortly after. He is slated to face Russian knockout artist Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Netflix has emerged as a significant player in the boxing world, showcasing prominent fights such as Paul vs Joshua, Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford, Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano, and Paul vs Mike Tyson.
Joshua is on the brink of returning to full training for a potential comeback later this year. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, revealed that a highly anticipated all-British heavyweight clash between Fury and Joshua remains a possibility despite the recent challenges faced by Joshua.
Hearn indicated, “Originally the plan with AJ was for him to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury in August. He’s not going to fight Tyson Fury next; he’s expected to return in late summer. Physically, he’s not yet prepared to come back, so he’s currently resting and gearing up.”
“I’m exploring options to have him back in the ring in July, but we’ll only know if that’s feasible when he returns to training, hopefully within the next few weeks. Every fight is risky given what he’s been through. While we are open to the Tyson Fury fight, it’s more likely to happen towards the end of the year or early in 2027.”